I purchased a Abi award sunstar(1994) just before christmas 2012 from a so called dealer based in Bordon Hants,it was originally offered on ebay but also as classified elsewhere complete with awning & advertised as bargain very good condition(£1400.00),went to see the van & there were many styles of vans there, but as I had an Abi before I thought better the devil you know,had a good look round it very smart & tidy of course I didnt have a damp meter (a must for 2nd hand vans)I did open every cupboard & nook & cranny looking for damp but all seemed well apart from 2 tables missing that hook on, but not a drama,the fellow that was selling it said that he had just had it in & there was a lot of interest, so I did ask if there was anything he knew that needed doing as in servicing or damp etc, he said no its good to go,well got it home & into the rear garden I felt pleased as punch.The following weekend I went to put the awning up to see what the ol girl looked like set when after 3 hours my wife said that the awning is to small, bugger I thought so I made a phone call to this seller bloke & he said nothing to do with me I only sell em !!Oh well sold the awning bought one that did fit.
Getting everything ready I noticed some paper pealing at the rear window, WOW !!! thats when I knew I had been sold a caravan that looked like it had been made out of bolsa wood sodden in water, the whole rear end completely
rotten under the paper, so as far we have not used the caravan as I have started what I thought to be an easy fix, then I found that I have been made redundant & my plans to mend my caravan have come to a halt,lookin & asking around it will not cost a great deal but very short on patients & cash I have come to the point that Im thinking sod it I will put it down to experience, so if anyone has time on their hands who would be willing to help or advise me as my woman is close to tears :(
Can't help but the seller sounds like one of the guys that take the dealers part exchanges and sell them on. The ones respectable dealers will not sell. No doubt the seller knows his vans and knew perfectly well it was damp.
No scruples some people. We bought a van off of one of these merchants once. We were very naive but at least we got a couple of years out of ours before it was significantly damp.
I know I should of thought really because of the price, but yes your right I think he is a seller from a dealer, I just have to put it down to experience I guess..
Just a thought
as in the earlier post I have an Abi sunstar with the rear end completly damp, I have renewed part of the framework, but was wondering if I could replace the thin metal with marine ply for the rear exterior middle panel ie: between the top plastic spoiler & the bottom plastic bumper/ lights panel & then paint it, any ideas welcome please..
Your not the first and won't be the last. Put it down to experience and move on. I bet like me you won't buy another van without taking a damp meter with you!
As to the repairs they are not expensive, mostly time consuming and by the sound of it you now have some free time so crack on. I've just replaced the entire side wall boards and rear floor on a big van and I think it's cost under £200.
Unless the panel is rotten (full of holes) I would leave it as it is. It gets its strength from the foam sandwich construction, as long as the foam is stuck to the metal and to the inner ply, it will be stiff and strong. You have replaced the rotten framework, so all should now be fine.
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Topic: Done like a kipper - replacing ext panel
